The Algonquin Wolves men's volleyball team (7-3) took a trip down to Peterborough for a date with the Fleming Knights (4-5) to kick off the 2nd half of the season. These two teams met in Ottawa on November 26th when the Wolves came away with a tightly contested 5 set win. The rematch was as close as it could get, going to 5 sets, 3 of which were decided by 2 points.
The home team came out hot out of the gates taking an early 4-1 lead. The Wolves eventually found their bearings and came back to take their first lead 9-8 on a Ryan Lincoln block. Fleming bounced back to take a 14-10 lead forcing coach Jelle Kooijman to take an Algonquin timeout. The Knights were the better team coming out of the break grabbing their largest lead at 21-15. 2nd year middle Connor Finnie entered the game at this point and had an immediate impact, helping his team close the gap to 22-19 forcing Fleming to call their first timeout. The Wolves kept the pressure on after the break and eventually tied the set 24-24 after the Knights mishandled the Jeff Commerford serve. With things unraveling, Fleming called their 2nd timeout of the set. Unfortunately for the Wolves, The Knights would score the next 2 points to secure the first set win 26-24.
After dropping the first set, the Wolves were in need of a win in set number 2. They came out hot taking a 17-9 lead forcing Fleming to take their 2 timeouts. The Knights managed to close the gap to 17-13, but it was all Algonquin from there eventually winning the set 25-18 on a Pras Jeyapalasingham kill. The two teams would split the next two sets with Fleming taking the 3rd set 25-21 and Algonquin grabbing the 4th 25-23 setting up a fifth and deciding set.
The final frame was just as close as the rest of the game. Both teams traded points until the Knights took a timeout with Algonquin leading 9-8. Connor Finnie was a force in the early going for the Wolves coming up with 4 kills in their first 10 points. With the set tied at 13, Algonquin eventually sealed the deal with a Jeff Commerford kill and a Fleming error to win it 15-13.
Pras Jeyapalasingham had his usual big game finishing with 9 kills and 4 blocks. Jeff Commerford was right behind him with 12 kills and 7 digs, an impressive return home for the Peterborough native. Connor Finnie was huge for the Wolves finishing with 9 kills and a .600 kill percentage. Ryan Lincoln also scored in double figures with 4 kills, 3 aces, and 3 blocks. Warner Jaworski and Ethan Pilotte were huge on the defensive side of the ball coming up with 19 and 16 digs each.
The win improves the Wolves record to 8-3, good for 3rd in the OCAA East standings and 5th in the OCAA power rankings. The team will be back in action at home this weekend when they take on the Seneca Sting on Friday and the Loyalist Lancers on Saturday.
Come out to the ARC and support your Wolves!
